Friday, January 31, 2014

I am not usually one to
make goals with the change of calendars, but something pushed me to
do so this year. However, I also have a problem with humility so I
wanted to wait and see if I could stick to yet another self-imposed
challenge! My goal? Just do it. More on that in a little bit,
first I want to do a brief 2013 recap.......

Last winter I was training for the
annual St. Patrick's 10K Road Race in Holyoke. I was newly recovered
after a combination of hip and back injuries and was feeling
optimistic. I had run my course PR and kept my targeted pace
throughout the course, not to mention that I unexpectedly sprinted
the final .2 miles. I felt strong, motivated, and back on track.

Upon returning home, I looked at the
calendar and realized that I was on course to run the very half
marathon where I was scheduled to volunteer. With the support of my
family, boyfriend, and last minute volunteers I was able to register
for the Wallis Sands Half Marathon in NH. As a Valentine's gift, Tim
paid for my registration fee. This time I smashed my 13.1 PR by 5
minutes. I decided here that the half marathon is my favorite
distance to run, but the possibility of running further had creeped
into my brain.

Using the money I had received from my
April birthday, I signed up for the Smuttynose Brewfest Marathon, also in NH. I wasn't sure what exactly I was getting myself
into at the time, but my running partner had completed her first
marathon just six months earlier, so I knew that my goal was within
reach. And the rest is history.....

Now, what's on tap for 2014? I expect
this year to build on my experiences from last fall – the theme of
new challenges is still in the air. It's exhilarating and terrifying
all at once, which is why I have chosen “Just do it” as my
mantra (thanks, Nike!).

Walking billboards! Tim's mantra: Underarmour = stay warm

While last year was an absolutely
incredible time for me athletically, I now have to focus on school
and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Thus
far I have applied to 12 summer internships, applied for my passport, spent a long weekend in NYC and decided to run the Boston Marathon on April 21.

Yes, you read that right...I will be
running my second marathon only six months after my first. At first I
wasn't sure about this prospect – Could I do it? Would I want to?
But with a summer research internship comes the sacrifice of
triathlon season and fall distance events. Alas, what's a girl to
do?!

My decision to run Boston also serves a
larger purpose as I will be running with the group Griffin's Friends, an organization which supports families as their children
battle cancer, and my boyfriend – a cancer survivor – will be
running alongside me. We have recently set up our fundraising page
which you can find here.

We began training around Thanksgiving
but were reluctant to make a public announcement until potential
injuries were put aside. At this point we are preparing for a 12 mile
group run on Sunday and have logged quite a few miles together
outdoors, on the track, and on the treadmill.

This training cycle is much different
from anything I have ever done before: my running serves a purpose
beyond myself, I'm training with my non-runner boyfriend, and I'm
working toward this goal as a member of a team. The dynamic is so
different from what I have experienced before, and I have learned a
lot about myself already. Most importantly, I have learned how to
break down my self-imposed boundaries and enter my dis-comfort zones.
It has not always been easy, but I am ready to leave stagnancy
behind and move forward with my life. This is just another part of
the journey.